Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1887-06-16

SSA eSsoP' LAiSu yer 8 Aunt hlnQy
house, and she lows fer We ter GO"
Fluridy AIMS eyes still glanced
wlstfully at the '.neckerchers, and
he, noting her gaze, selected one of the
gayest and tossed it round her shout
ders. saying:
Thar s one for you don't charge
nuthin' fer hit seen We wanted one,
and now you'll jest let me stop, won't
YEP"
He had risen from the step and APP
preached her. S'manthY had gone
into the kitchen. He placed his face
close to Fluridy AIMS, and looking
her squareiy in the eyes, repeated IN
slightly changed voice:
you'll jest let me stop--you viii, I
know"
The girl gave him a quick. fright
ened look. while her face grew pale.
Then, with revulsive flush of color,
she fed into the kitchen without a
word.
81 reckon I kin git to STOP" he said
to himself as he resumed his seat
Shortly after that they had supper.
A bright moon flooded the leafy re-
cesses OF Bear Cove in soft, silvery
light. The liquid babble of Deep
creek, re-emphasized by the distant
roar Of the falls at the furnace mill a
mile below, rose out of unseen depths be-
meath the rugged slope, whereto Aunt
Rindy's little cabin chung. Across the
Cove toward the lofty slope of Chestnut
mountain, bathed in flmy radiance to
its summit, while lower down, between
its SCARED ridges, broad shadows con-
cealed the deep gorges dividing the
holder spurs that widen out into fertile
coves at its foot
Far toward the east lofty outline of
sharply serrated peaks were family
| outlined against the horizon, though
the score or more of lesser ridges inter-
| vening lay fat and indistinguishable
beneath the moon. Here and there,
from some creek bottom. faint white
streaks of mist curled upward into in
visibility of the upper air.
The two women and the peddler sat
out on the little porch, unmindful of
| this sylvan illustration of majestic
| quietude. The tinkle of cow and sheep
bells mingling with the voice of Deep
creek and the night winds sigh re-
lieved, yet did not dissipate, the savage
| isolation of the scene.
The peddler talked necessarily, ad-
dressing his remarks principally to
S'manthy. who seemed lost in wonder
over his marvellous adventures in the
great outer world she had never seen
and heard but little Of Fluridy Ann
remained silent yet seldom removed
her eyes from his heavily bearded face
as he ratified carelessly on.
At length he expressed a desire to
retire. He was shown into little
shed room at the rear of the cabin. A
small window, mere hole cut through
the logs, opened upon his bed He
turned to Fluridy Ann. who had shown
him out there. and said:
II jest knowed, yer'd low fer me
ter stop in spite of ser aunt"
| Fluridy Ann glanced round to see
that S'manthy was not within hear
ing, then whispered:
BE you really one of them Their re-
porters?''
He shook his head negatively. cycling
her steadily the while.
"Be YOU" she whispered. with q
still more intense utterance, ''air you,
does you know"
| She stammered, then paused
| Don't you poster yourself, child
he replied. mysteriously. Hit air all
right, and hit air bound to come out
all right"
| Aunt Rindy's voice an footstep were
now heard at the front of the house.
Fluridy Ann in alarm pushed the ped
dler into his room, closed the door,
and glided swiftly into the front room.
Air that there teller gomez" she
asked.
How did We leave Clindy?" in
quired Fluridy Ann hurriedly.
''She air powerful meechin' and
puny, but she's better. And so ye
packed him off. did yep
'N-no. He lowed that he was
plum tuckered out and We uns jest
couldn't git shet of him nohow."
Where is hep asked Aunt Rindy,
angrily.
Hes done gone ter bed in the shed
room. Now don't We poster him,
Aunt Rindy," said Fluridy Ann. as
the old woman started up. He CAM
hurt nuthin' nor no one in thar, and
jest know that folks I'll say we'uns is
powerful mean ter turn off poor fell
low jist because he's stranger"
The ole woman glared at her niece,
then noticing the 'neckercher' the
peddler had given her still around her
neck. she laughed harshly, but relin
pushed her pufp pose of still turning
him off saying:
Hit air plain ter see what has wor
ye over to let him stop. But if any
thing happens ter Alb and the boys a
the still you'll pintedly be ter blame
Member how my poor Jase-"
Don't remember HIM Aun
Rindy?" she cried, brokenly. .Ain'
a'ays thinkin' about hime"
THAR. thar, child. We'll all get te
: bed, and mebbe nothin' bad'n conn
! outen thish yer Teller after ALL"
The old woman spoke less sternly
and led the way inside. Yet after all
, the inmates of the cabin had retired
she lay awake with her eyes fixed or
l the door of the peddler's room. muir
ing inaudbly to herself
The moon at last sank behind Chest
7 nut mountain. A fading film of lish